Two-ply convertible pillow blanket

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a two-ply convertible pillow blanket device with an internal pocket. The device can be used as a traditional blanket. Alternatively, if the user desires to use the device as a pillow, he or she simply unfastens the internal pocket, folds down the blanket toward the internal pocket, inverts and refastens the internal pocket with the folded portion of the blanket inside thereby forming the pillow. When the opening of the internal pocket is refastened it forms a pillow which is nearly identical to a traditional pillow.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/399,502 filed on Jul. 12, 2010.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Invention is an improvement upon the current state of the art inconvertible pillow blankets. The convertible pillow blanket isconvenient for travel, sporting events as well as many other situationsin that you do not need to carry with you both a traditional pillow andblanket. Having a two-in-one convertible pillow blanket is a convenientway to maintain your comfort in those situations.

However, the current state of the art of convertible pillow blankets arelimited in that they function in one of two ways. Either the convertiblepillow blanket is simply a blanket with a strap-type mechanism thatallows the blanket to be rolled up and used as a pillow or theconvertible pillow blanket is a blanket with a pocket sewn onto it thatallows the blanket to be folded up and stuffed in the pocket and used asa pillow. While both of these applications are useful, neither fullyresemble a traditional pillow or blanket when being used for eachpurpose.

The first of the aforementioned current state of the art designs, i.e.,the design that uses straps, is limited in its function because italways has the straps attached to it. Such straps can be cumbersome whenbeing used a blanket and/or can be uncomfortable when being used as apillow. The other current state of the art design for a convertiblepillow blanket comprises a traditional blanket with a sewn-on pocket onone surface of the blanket. This design of convertible pillow blanketconverts into a pillow by folding or stuffing the blanket into theexterior pocket. This design of convertible pillow blanket can neverfully resemble a traditional blanket because the exterior pocket isalways visible when being used in blanket form.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Invention provides an improvement upon the aforementioned currentconvertible pillow blankets. It is a two-ply blanket with an internalpocket. This way when being used as a blanket, the Invention is nearlyidentical to a traditional blanket. There are no straps or exteriorpockets that would interfere with its use as a blanket. When the userdesires to use the Invention as a pillow, he or she simply unfastens theinternal pocket, folds down the blanket toward the internal pocket andinverts and refastens the internal pocket with the folded portion of theblanket inside thereby forming the pillow. When the opening of theinternal pocket is refastened it forms a pillow which is nearlyidentical to a traditional pillow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the presentinvention, together with further advantages thereof will be betterunderstood from the following description and in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the inventionis illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and are not intended as the definition of the limits ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded top view of the convertible pillow blanket inblanket form;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the convertible pillow blanket in blanket form.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the convertible pillow blanket in blanket formwith the internal pocket unzipped and partially opened.

FIG. 4 is a view of the convertible pillow blanket in the process ofbeing converted from blanket form to pillow form.

FIG. 5 is the top view of the convertible pillow blanket in pillow form.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the convertible pillow blanket in pillow form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The ensuing description provides one exemplary embodiment only, and isnot intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of theinvention. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodimentwill provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description forimplementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It should beunderstood that various changes may be made in the function andarrangement of the elements with departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded top view of the convertible pillow blanket inblanket form. Top layer (2) is attached to bottom layer (4) by apermanent means such as stitching along the perimeter of (2) and (4)except for the portion of the perimeter that will form the opening ofthe internal pocket (6). The portion of the perimeter that will form theopening of the internal pocket, (2) is attached to (4) by a mechanismthat will allow for opening and closing of the pocket such as a zipper.The internal pocket (6) is formed by attaching top layer (2) to bottomlayer (4) by a permanent means, such as stitching, along the sides ofthe pocket that are not along the perimeter (10) and by an attachmentmechanism that allows for opening and closing along the perimeter (8).

FIG. 2 shows the side view of the convertible pillow blanket in blanketform. Top layer (102) is attached to bottom layer (104) along theperimeter of (102) and (104) by a permanent means such as stitching(106) except for the portion that will form the opening of the internalpocket. The portion that forms the opening of the internal pocket isattached by a mechanism that will allow for opening and closing of thepocket such as a zipper (108).

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the convertible pillow blanket (202) inblanket form with the internal pocket open. The attachment mechanism onthe opening of the internal pocket (204) along the perimeter of theblanket has been opened thereby exposing a portion of the interior ofthe internal pocket.

FIG. 4 shows the convertible pillow blanket in the process of beingconverted from blanket form to pillow form. The internal pocket (302)has been opened and inverted and the blanket material (304) outside ofthe pocket (306) is being placed inside of the inverted internal pocket.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the convertible pillow blanket in pillow form(402). The blanket material outside of the pocket area has been placedfully within the inverted internal pocket and resealed along theperimeter thereby fully enclosing the excess material within theinverted internal pocket. In the preferred embodiment, the attachmentmechanism (404) along the perimeter of the pillow blanket when in pillowform is hidden by a slight overhanging flap of material left withreclosable attachment mechanism is stitched or otherwise fastened to thematerial. This hides the reclosable attachment mechanism and allows theconvertible pillow blanket in pillow form to almost identically resemblea traditional pillow.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the convertible pillow blanket in pillow form(502). The attachment mechanism (504) is seen along the center of thepillow in this side view. Again, the attachment mechanism in thepreferred embodiment is covered by the flaps of material created whenthe attachment mechanism is sewed or otherwise attached to the material.All of the material that is outside of the pocket when in blanket formgoes inside of the inverted pocket when in pillow form.

1) A convertible pillow blanket device with an internal pocketcomprising: two pieces of material semi-permanently attached to oneanother along the perimeter of each piece of material except for theportion that will form the opening of the internal pocket; said pocketopening portion of the perimeter being attached by a mechanism that canbe opened and closed; the non-opening portion of the internal pocketbeing formed by semi-permanently attaching the top layer of material tothe bottom layer of material. 2) A device according to claim 1 in whichsaid material is water repellant/weather resistant material. 3) A deviceaccording to claim 1 in which said material is blanket material. 4) Adevice according to claim 1 having a logo defined on the exteriorsurface of the material. 5) A device according to claim 1 having a logodefined on the interior surface of the material in the internal pocketarea that is exposed when said internal pocket area is inverted. 6) Aconvertible pillow blanket device with an internal pocket comprising:two pieces of material semi-permanently attached to one another alongthe perimeter of each piece of material; an internal pocket formed bysemi-permanently attaching two pieces of material starting from theperimeter continuing toward the center area of the device for somedistance and returning to the perimeter some distance from the startingpoint on the perimeter; and a mechanism that can be opened and closedattached to one piece of material starting from the perimeter at somepoint inside the pocket area continuing toward the center area of theblanket for some distance and returning to the perimeter at somedistance away from the starting point but still within the internalpocket area. 7) A device according to claim 6 in which said material iswater repellant/weather resistant material. 8) A device according toclaim 6 in which said material is blanket material. 9) A deviceaccording to claim 6 having a logo defined on the exterior surface ofthe material. 10) A device according to claim 6 having a logo defined onthe interior surface of the material in the pocket area that is exposedwhen said pocket area is inverted.